Just in Time for the Holidays—America’s Children Get the Gift of Cleaner Air

Just in Time for the Holidays—America’s Children Get the Gift of Cleaner Air

Washington D.C. (December 22, 2011) – Americans have something to celebrate this holiday season! Yesterday, the EPA finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. These new national standards will protect families from power plant emissions of mercury and air toxics like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide. Symbolically announcing the new standards at the Children’s National Medical Center, Lisa Jackson reinforced how important these changes will be for our nation’s children and generations to come.

“It has taken almost 20 year to amend the Clean Air Act, despite clear, unequivocal scientific knowledge that mercury and other pollutants have been killing our children. We can all breathe easier now that mercury, a known neurotoxin, and other pollutants are being more strictly regulated,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network.

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Earth Day Network's mission is to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement, driving action year-round. Earth Day Network does this through advocacy, education, public policy, and consumer campaigns (www.earthday.org).